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@ajc2260626, its a good day out - bearing in mind that a lot of the descent is sunnyside whether it is really fun or not will depend a lot on snow conditions (safety obviously is another matter altogether..) - though the heli-bump is obviously questionable from an environmental standpoint...
Speak to the guides bureaux when you are there and they will soon tell you whether it is a goer or not - will depend on snow & weather.
If you/they can put together a group of 4 then it works out reasonably cost effective...

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

A lot of the adventure ski schools do it, so a decent off piste instructor is fine too. Prepare for a cost north of €300

i want to do the run down and the chopper back, there will be between 2 and 4 of us, we have two people who would deffo do it so would then look for a couple of more to join us, although not a deal breaker if its just two of us.......

I have done it a few times. There are a couple of different routes, but as @offpisteskiing, says. It is sunny side so snow quality is most important. It can be a reasonably straight forward ski so you do not have to be an expert off piste skier to do this. But you are a long way from anywhere so need to be confident. One time we did it the cheap way. Bus and train back to Bourg. Took ages, but cheaper. If you can afford it Heli is the way to go. Enjoy the trip.

After all it is free

After all it is free

@ajc2260626, I like your thinking. Just got out my old record...late Feb 2005. "Wed;Superb;Bonneval;Xcellent snow.Lunch at nice caff overlooking street; VG off-piste in resort at south end looking towards Italy; heli back using red medi-chopper based at la Daille which helps pay its costs" I think our Guide was Phillipe and someone must have booked him from Guide Office. He was quite adventurous and really on our wavelength. We did it once before and again had heli return but that time in a fairly old rattly one. Dropped us on top of Solaise both times.Interestingly, the commencement was at Col des back bottoms......funny I should remember that...

Great memory you have raised, thanks.

You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.

You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.

Ye gods, this set-up is super clinical. Col des back bottoms is really, in French,Col des...short English word meaning the same thing and beginning with A.... but I guess it still won't get by the checker. I never asked for the translation, I just locked it in memory. I guess Associates of the Royal Society of Electrical Surveyors must have this problem when using their Letters.

Ski the Net with snowHeads

Ski the Net with snowHeads

Farley Goode wrote:

I guess Associates of the Royal Society of Electrical Surveyors must have this problem when using their Letters.

Only on anally retentive websites though.

I believe arse is an alpe that has been cleared by burning - that is, a field for grazing. Arse being related to the English word: arson

Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads on Fri 14-09-18 9:21; edited 1 time in total

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

Farley Goode wrote:

Ye gods, this set-up is super clinical. Col des back bottoms is really, in French,Col des...short English word meaning the same thing and beginning with A.... but I guess it still won't get by the checker. I never asked for the translation, I just locked it in memory. I guess Associates of the Royal Society of Electrical Surveyors must have this problem when using their Letters.

Even though it's a small URL I had to use tinyURL to avoid the checker changing it !

And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.

And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.

Worth doing it in the morning and ski the rest of the day in Bonneval before the helicopter return. Some very good off-piste there (North facing).

So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much

So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much

I’ve led plenty of groups down there. It’s a fairly easy descent... hardest part is hike / skin ‘in’ then push at end. There HAS to be snow down to about 1800 in decent amounts otherwise it’s a nightmare. Heli is hit and miss at that time of the year though and you will not have a huge amount of time to ski bonneval itself as the light fades. Other thing to consider is only 4 return trips over the col are allowed and those spots are often taken well in advance then cancelled if weather poor... so book early but be prepared for a let down. Price is about €1100 TOTAL for the 1-4 persons all in for the day. Drop me a line if u want more info but getting guide / chopper availability might be too late already!